초록 ▼

A method and system of providing copy protection of video analog and digital signals and the like, wherein the signals are transmitted via a digital delivery network, and may comprise, for example, pay per view (PPV) program materials protected by copyrights of respective program rights holders. The

A method and system of providing copy protection of video analog and digital signals and the like, wherein the signals are transmitted via a digital delivery network, and may comprise, for example, pay per view (PPV) program materials protected by copyrights of respective program rights holders. The right holders authorize video service providers (3) to apply copy protection to the program material. The copy protection process is supplied to the rights holders or the service providers (3) by a copy protection process licensor. The video service providers (3) supply suitable copy protection control software via respective control and billing (tracking) centers to generate commands which activate, control and reconfigure the copy protection process being applied to the programs being transmitted. A settop box (10) is provided to each consumer and contains a copy protection circuit which is adapted to apply selected anticopy waveforms to the video signal corresponding to the program material in response to the commands from the service providers (3). Usage data pertinent to each consumer is returned by the settop box (10) to the service providers (3), which then report the copy protection usage to the respective rights holders and process licensor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of providing copy protection of signal material transmitted via digital delivery networks to a consumer's set-top box, to prevent copying and/or subsequent viewing of a recorded copy of the signal material, comprising:supplying copy protection controls indicative of desired copy protecti

1. A method of providing copy protection of signal material transmitted via digital delivery networks to a consumer's set-top box, to prevent copying and/or subsequent viewing of a recorded copy of the signal material, comprising:supplying copy protection controls indicative of desired copy protection for the signal material; storing a copy protection configuration corresponding to the desired copy protection in the set-top box; transmitting commands derived from and in response to the copy protection controls which activate the copy protection configuration for the signal material; and applying the copy protection configuration to the signal material in response to the commands to prevent the subsequent viewing of the recorded copy of the copy protected signal material while allowing viewing of the original signal material as via a television set; wherein the step of supplying includes; establishing requirements for activating and controlling a process which enables the application of said copy protection configuration and which reports the corresponding usage thereof; and providing copy protection control software in response to the requirements, which software provides said copy protection controls to activate and control the application of the copy protection configuration and the usage reports.